Delicate Beauty in the Palm : Chapter 23 - So Ugly
Chapter 23: So Ugly
“……”
Chen Die was completely dazed by his sudden appearance and then overwhelmed by the scorching intensity of his presence. She lay there on the bed, locked in a stare with him for a long moment before finally snapping out of it.
She shoved hard against his chest and quickly got up to move away. “Mr. Wen, have some self-respect. If you keep putting your hands on me, I’ll scream for help.”
The threat didn’t faze Wen Liang at all. He even chuckled. “Who are you going to call? Want me to help you yell for that useless director just now?”
“Wen Liang!” Chen Die was truly pissed off now.
He scoffed. “So ungrateful.”
Chen Die really thought he must be drunk. She ignored him, walked around him, and pulled the second volume of the script from the drawer.
Since she couldn’t get rid of him and he clearly wasn’t going to listen, she just decided to treat him like air. She opened the script and sat cross-legged on the carpet.
Tomorrow’s scenes marked a new chapter — the second phase of her character’s growth.
She had already gone through the script before and was reviewing her lines one last time before bed.
Wen Liang sat right across from her.
He didn’t say a word. Just stared at her.
After a while, Chen Die began to feel uncomfortable. She looked up in frustration and immediately met his dark, unwavering gaze. She frowned. “Aren’t you annoying.”
Wen Liang didn’t know if he was annoying or not — he only knew that the irritation he’d felt for so long seemed to vanish the moment he looked at this feisty version of Chen Die.
He lazily smiled. “Am I f***ing bothering you?”
“Then stop staring at me.”
Wen Liang tilted his head, seriously examined her for a few seconds, and said, “So ugly.”
“???”
Unforgivable!!!
“Then stop hanging around me. Go back to your own room!” Chen Die grabbed the cushion under her and threw it at him.
Wen Liang caught it and clicked his tongue. “You’re so spoiled. Lately, your temper’s been getting worse. You even followed someone into the restroom to hit them.”
Chen Die froze. “You were the one eavesdropping outside the door last time, weren’t you?”
“Do I look like someone who needs to eavesdrop?” Wen Liang raised a brow. “You really are getting worse with age. I heard you got slapped a bunch of times and didn’t fight back?”
“That was acting.”
“Acting or venting, don’t you know in your own heart?”
His temper was the same as always — sharp and cutting.
Chen Die couldn’t win in a war of words. “It’s none of your business.”
“If you don’t want me to care, then don’t let people push you around.”
“If I get pushed around, that still has nothing to do with you.” Chen Die felt like her IQ dropped ten points just talking to him — the two of them bickering like grade-schoolers.
Wen Liang’s expression darkened. “If it’s none of my business, then who’s going to care? Lu Chuan?”
He had already mentioned Lu Chuan several times tonight, like some kind of lunatic. Chen Die decided to be just as childish. “Yeah, I want him to care. What about it?”
He sneered. “Did he protect you? You still got slapped.”
Chen Die really had the talent to calm him down one second, then make him want to explode the next.
Wen Liang stood up. Chen Die was still sitting on the carpet by the coffee table, glaring up at him.
He leaned down and grabbed her chin. “If I hadn’t slept with you back then, you’d still be calling me Brother Wen Liang all obediently. Try giving me that attitude again.”
Chen Die’s eyes widened in disbelief.
How could he say something so shameless?
“Wen Liang, stop thinking I can’t live without you.” Chen Die looked straight at him. “Even if I’m exhausted filming every day now, I’m still happier than when I was being kept by you.”
Wen Liang didn’t reply.
His hand gripping her chin tightened slightly.
Chen Die, stubborn as ever, didn’t flinch — just met his gaze head-on.
After a long silence, Wen Liang gave a cold snort and got up to leave.
He didn’t forget to slam the door so hard the whole room shook.
He was definitely angry this time.
Chen Die suddenly felt like all the strength had drained from her body. Her back slumped, and she let out a long breath.
She reviewed her lines a while longer before finally getting up to shower.
Normally, she’d just throw on a robe afterward, but tonight — remembering who was in the room next door — she quietly put on proper pajamas.
When she came out of the bathroom after brushing her teeth, she noticed two missed calls on her phone — both from Xia Ying.
Chen Die called Xia Ying back.
“Ah, the busy bee finally finished! Didn’t you say you'd be done with the shoot early today?” Xia Ying said as soon as she answered.
“I finished a while ago. My phone was on silent, so I didn’t hear it.”
Xia Ying chatted casually, “So, what were you doing just now?”
“Reviewing my lines.”
Xia Ying clicked her tongue. “I really admire you. You can memorize lines so well you don’t even check your phone.”
…Well, that wasn’t quite the case.
When Xia Ying called, Chen Die had been in the middle of an argument with Wen Liang.
She leaned back, sitting on the floor with her back against the bed, suddenly feeling a need to vent. She sighed and said, “Yingying, there's this old bull with no shame trying to eat fresh grass.”
“Ah?”
Her metaphor was so crude that Xia Ying didn’t quite get it at first.
Chen Die sighed again.
Xia Ying finally got it and slapped the table. “Is someone bullying you? It’s not some hidden rule, is it? Damn, is it the director, producer, or some investor?!”
“…No,” Chen Die said softly. “He’s eating leftovers.”
“......”
Xia Ying was confused. “Are you talking about your ex?”
“Mn.”
Xia Ying took a deep breath and cursed, “So he’s chasing after you?”
“Not exactly.”
Chen Die wasn’t sure how to explain.
Her relationship with Wen Liang was too complicated to sum up with a simple word.
Despite saying some irritating things to her, that was just his way of expressing himself — he’d been like that since she met him. But now, he actually came over.
Not just came over, he even stayed next to her.
This was so unlike Wen Liang.
Of course, Chen Die wasn’t narcissistic enough to think Wen Liang wanted to pursue her.
With his temper and aggressive attitude, it would be a miracle if he could get anyone to fall for him.
Xia Ying asked, “So, what’s going on?”
“Well—” Chen Die thought for a moment. “He probably wants to sleep with me.”
“......”
Wen Liang’s anger flared, irritated by just a few words from Chen Die.
She’d really gotten under his skin. Wen Liang now realized clearly that in the past few years, Chen Die had been pretending to be obedient around him.
But after being irritated, he actually felt a strange sense of relief.
Wen Liang stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at himself.
He hadn’t shaved in a while, and his bangs had grown long enough to cover the scar on his forehead, softening its sharpness.
Chen Die’s words from earlier — ‘Wen Liang, stop thinking I can’t live without you’ — flashed back in his mind.
She had said it so calmly, so distantly.
It felt like she was stating a fact while mocking his self-importance.
The thought made Wen Liang feel even more frustrated, and part of him wanted to just ignore everything and take her back to his place, lock her up, and stop her from being so carefree, making him worry.
But as he thought about it, the image in his mind shifted, bringing him back four years ago, to that night.
The night she stopped calling him ‘Brother Wen Liang.’
Her eyes were red, biting her lower lip to suppress any sound, clearly in pain and trying to shrink away, yet still reaching out to cling tightly to his back.
The memory of that night flooded him, clear as day — even the suppressed, fragmented sounds seemed to echo in his mind.
Wen Liang swallowed hard, his temple throbbing.
He braced himself on the sink, splashed cold water on his face, and muttered under his breath, “Damn it.”
The next morning, Chen Die went to the set as usual.
After spending some time with the crew, she had gotten along well with everyone.
As soon as she entered the makeup room, the makeup artist teased her, “Such a beautiful face! Finally, I can give you a gorgeous makeup look. I've been looking forward to this for a while!”
Chen Die smiled and sat down in front of the mirror.
It was much easier to apply makeup on a beauty like her, and soon, she was done and escorted to change into her costume.
It was a more neutral look, a pale blue gown with a subtle yet elegant makeup that gave off a strong presence and aura.
“Come on, come on, let me take a picture of you!” The makeup artist excitedly squatted down with her phone to take a photo.
Today, the makeup and costume were done early. Feng Zhi and Lu Chuan were outside perfecting the set, so Chen Die had some free time to chat with a few crew members.
It was at this time that her phone rang.
It was Zhu Qicong calling.
Chen Die was a bit stunned. Since she left the villa, she hadn’t been in touch with Zhu Qicong.
She apologized to the people around her, then walked outside to answer the call. “Hello?”
“Miss Chen, are you at the <Hairpin Flowers> set right now?” Zhu Qicong asked.
“Yes, do you need something from me?”
“You haven’t had breakfast yet, right? I’ve brought it to you.”
“......”
Chen Die blinked, about to refuse, but then Zhu Qicong added, “Miss Chen, I see you.”
She instinctively turned around and saw Zhu Qicong getting out of a car, walking towards her, holding a square bag of breakfast bag with the words ‘Yunshuzhai’ delicately embossed on it.
Zhu Qicong handed her the bag.
Chen Die didn’t reach out to take it and frowned. “Did Wen Liang ask you to deliver this?”
Zhu Qicong nodded. “No, I brought it for you on my way here. You've helped me a lot in the past.”
Chen Die was foolish to believe his lies.
Zhu Qicong had spent too much time with Wen Liang, and now he was just as good at lying!
Since she separated from Wen Liang, Zhu Qicong hadn’t tried to contact her once. But now that Wen Liang was staying here, Zhu Qicong was calling and delivering breakfast.
If it wasn’t Wen Liang’s idea, he wouldn’t dare do this on his own.
Unable to hold back, Chen Die rolled her eyes. "You can take it back and eat it yourself."
“Chen Die!!” A voice came from behind.
Fang Ruan ran over, linking arms with her while saying, “Why did you come out?” At the same time, she discreetly sized up Zhu Qicong, then asked, “Who is this?”
“Hello.” Zhu Qicong extended his hand. “I’m…”
Chen Die interrupted him. “A friend.”
Zhu Qicong froze.
… The experience of suddenly becoming friends with the ex-girlfriend of the boss was quite strange.
Chen Die wasn’t interested in letting her past be known to everyone, especially not in the entertainment industry, where things could easily get embarrassing.
So, she just took the breakfast from Zhu Qicong and sent him on his way.
Fang Ruan followed Chen Die back into the set, still glancing back.
Zhu Qicong, looking well-dressed, walked straight toward a Bentley.
Fang Ruan opened her mouth.
Uh-oh.
Which rich second-generation kid was this?
“Who was that just now?” Fang Ruan nudged her shoulder.
Chen Die remained unfazed. “A friend.”
“A friend who's chasing you?”
… He really wouldn’t dare.
“No.”
“But he brought you breakfast this early! And it’s from Yunshuzhai! One dish costs almost a thousand, right?!”
Chen Die sighed, using this as an excuse to mock Wen Liang privately. “Maybe he’s just some idiot with too much money and nowhere to spend it.”
“......”
Inside the bag was an intricately carved wooden round box with a faint scent of fresh herbs. Chen Die opened the lid to reveal an assortment of delicate Cantonese-style dim sum.
Chen Die used to love eating from this place.
There were still some people in the crew who hadn’t had breakfast, so Chen Die called everyone over to share.
Filming began.
Today, the shooting location was outdoors.
The blazing sun hung high above, and Chen Die’s costume was quite thick, causing her to sweat profusely in no time.
The scene she was filming today was a turning point in the story, demanding a lot of acting skill. Chen Die had already discussed the scene with Lu Chuan earlier, but it was still difficult for her to get into character, and the lines didn’t come out as beautifully as she had hoped.
“Cut!” Feng Zhi called out. “Chen Die, take a break.”
Chen Die walked over to the director’s monitor to watch her performance. It was indeed hard to get into the role, and the acting wasn’t great.
“Don’t be too nervous,” Lu Chuan comforted her.
Chen Die nodded and lowered her head, continuing to ponder the script.
Since filming began, everything had gone smoothly for her. You could even say she had rarely encountered setbacks on her path as an actress.
But now, after several takes in a row, she didn’t want to hold up the crew’s time and couldn’t help but feel anxious.
“Come, let me go over your lines with you again.”
Lu Chuan stood up from behind the monitor, walked to the side, and beckoned Chen Die over.
Just then, a commotion broke out outside the studio. Chen Die and Lu Chuan looked toward the entrance, where Feng Zhi stood up to greet a man walking in and shook his hand. “Mr. Wen, what brings you here in person?”
Wen Liang handed a box to someone from the props department.
Chen Die recognized it—it was the hairpin he had won at the charity gala.
But… why was Wen Liang at the set?
Lu Chuan, unaware of the entanglement between her and Wen Liang, explained, “Director Feng had previously asked Mr. Wen to loan us the hairpin. It adds more meaning to use the real thing in the scene. Some things just can't be captured properly with replicas.”
“He agreed to lend it?” Chen Die asked.
“Yeah, and he even brought it over himself.”
Only then did Chen Die realize she had asked a pointless question. She nodded. “Oh.”
Lu Chuan smiled. “Director Feng originally planned to bid for it himself, but the price ended up being way too high. With how high his standards are for filming and the amount of investment needed, borrowing it was the only option.”
Chen Die nodded in understanding.
Lu Chuan pulled her aside and took the script from her hands to read over it carefully. “Okay, here’s the thing. Don’t try too hard with this line. Keep it calm—feel the emotion, but don’t overdo it. This character, especially at this point in the story, doesn’t express emotions outwardly. You need to keep it restrained.”
Chen Die listened carefully and read the line again, following his advice.
“Yes, much better now. Just keep working on finding the right feeling.”
On the other side, Feng Zhi was making small talk with Wen Liang. He hadn’t expected him to agree to lend the hairpin at all, given Wen Liang’s reputation.
“I heard Mr. Wen is looking to expand into the entertainment industry?”
Wen Liang nodded. His collaboration with the film academy had been the first step. “I hope I’ll have the chance to work with Director Feng in the future.”
“I’m sure there will be, absolutely,” Feng Zhi said with a laugh. “If you’re not too busy, feel free to stick around and watch us film.”
Wen Liang gave a casual hum of agreement, his eyes drifting to where Chen Die and Lu Chuan stood.
Lu Chuan gently patted Chen Die’s shoulder twice—probably offering reassurance. Wen Liang scoffed quietly and let out a faint sneer.
Chen Die went to the restroom to splash water on her face.
When she turned to leave, she saw Wen Liang standing at the door.
His expression was calm as he leaned against the window frame, a cigarette—unlit—dangling from his lips.
He wasn’t exuding the overbearing aura from the night before. His gaze calmly settled on her, studying her from bottom to top.
No one else was around. The scorching sunlight poured in, casting long, narrow shadows of window panes on the floor, stretching out their silhouettes.
Chen Die was in costume: a clean, pale blue and white outfit cinched tightly at the waist, delicate and graceful.
The restroom in the film studio was old and rundown. Outside, the director’s voice could still be heard directing set arrangements.
Her eyes sparkled—like the innocent gaze of a startled fawn—but her elongated eyes had a sly, foxlike charm, easily disarming and drawing people into her trap.
Wen Liang’s heart clenched.
He had never been stunned by any woman’s appearance before. Even when Chen Die had been by his side in the past, he had simply acknowledged that she was beautiful—nothing more.
But at this moment, wearing the oversized, plain costume, water droplets still on her face trailing down from her chin, her whole aura radiant—she took his breath away.
He momentarily forgot how to breathe.
Then he remembered what she’d said the night before.
Annoyance flared in his chest. He strode over and raised his hand.
Chen Die instinctively dodged, leaning back against the wall, unable to escape.
Instead, Wen Liang placed his palm on her forehead.
Chen Die: “?”
Was this revenge?
He ruffled her hair roughly. The bangs she had carefully styled were completely ruined, sticking out everywhere like a bird’s nest.
Wen Liang muttered, “Ugly as hell.”
Chen Die: “???”
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